AI Adoption in FM Still Facing Challenges

CHICAGO -- New research has found that nearly half of organizations are already scaling or optimizing AI in their facilities management (FM) operations, as it rapidly reshapes how organizations operate and maintain offices and commercial properties.

According to JLL’s Global State of Facilities Management 2026 Report, based on responses from 1,321 organizations in the Americas, EMEA and APAC, a significant execution challenge is accompanying this transformation.

While organizations are rapidly advancing AI adoption, many are still building the workforce and operational capabilities needed to support it at scale. Nearly 70 percent of respondents reported operational disruptions over the past year caused by skilled trades labor shortages and AI or technical skills gaps, yet fewer than 45 percent say they are prepared to manage those risks over the next three to five years.

“Organizations across the Americas are rethinking the role of facilities management as they confront persistent skilled labor shortages, growing technology demands and heightened operational risks,” said Chris Fernandez, Americas Head of Workplace Management at JLL.
“The most successful organizations are treating facilities management as a strategic investment and using AI and data-driven operations to improve productivity and resilience while building the workforce capabilities needed to support long-term growth. As the demands on facilities teams continue to expand, FM is increasingly earning a seat at the executive table.”

As companies expand their use of AI and automation, they are assigning greater strategic importance to building management and operations. Half of respondents view FM as a significant driver of competitive advantage, which is projected to increase to 82 percent by 2030. Organizations with more advanced AI adoption also report higher perceptions of FM’s strategic value.

Historically, performance was largely constrained by workforce capacity. Today, AI, automation and robotics are emerging as a way organizations can scale operations more efficiently, augmenting human expertise with data-driven insights and automated execution. Robotics adoption is expected to nearly double, rising from 37% of organizations today to 71% by 2030. The result is a new operating model that combines skilled technicians, intelligent workflows and robotics-enabled execution to enhance productivity, responsiveness and service delivery.

The research also finds that organizations viewing FM as a competitive advantage are increasing investment rather than reducing resources. Among these respondents, 64% expect FM budgets to increase over the next three to five years and 58% plan to expand their workforce, while 45% anticipate both budget and workforce growth. The findings suggest organizations are expanding resources to support broader responsibilities and deliver greater business impact.

As organizations expand technology across larger portfolios, they increasingly recognize the need for external expertise as facilities operations become more technology-enabled and complex. Nearly half of advanced AI adopters consider external FM and technology partnerships essential, compared with just 20% of organizations that have not yet deployed AI.

“Data readiness remains one of the biggest barriers to scaling AI successfully,” said Wei Xie, Head of Strategy and Research, Workplace Management at JLL. “As organizations advance their AI adoption, provider selection increasingly shifts from cost and reliability toward data, technology and innovation capabilities. Organizations deploying AI at scale are more than twice as likely as those in the early stages to view external partnerships as essential to success.”

Looking ahead, respondents expect FM to become increasingly technology enabled. Nearly 90% believe spending will shift from labor toward technology and automation and expect greater use of outcome-based pricing while 85% envision operations delivered through a combination of human technicians, AI and robotics; however, procurement processes have yet to keep pace.

For more information, visit jll.com.